Dec. 9/16 - God: Our Master Artist

I enjoy marvelling at God’s creation in the city of Winnipeg, my hometown. Though the most populated place in Manitoba with minimal natural spaces that have yet to be developed into a business or an apartment complex, I see our province’s capital as beautiful; as part of God’s creation. 

I have grown to appreciate the beauty of my city. I follow numerous photographers on Instagram who take pictures of Winnipeg’s downtown in areas like The Exchange District and The Forks. The combination of new developments and old architecture make for some special photos that display the beauty of Winnipeg.

Each of the buildings in Winnipeg’s downtown had an architect, a head designer, or master artist. As a designer pencils a draft of his project to suit his clients, so God, our Master Artist, formed the world we live in today with us in mind. 

“The opening words of Genesis introduce us to God, the Creator revealing the master artist, shaping an forming, working in broad strokes and intricate detail, establishing contrasts and creating symbols.”

God as Master Artist draws me to God’s creativity. As I look around while on a road trip out West or on a hike in the Whiteshell, I see the creative side of our Father. I praise Him for his design and that I can experience his creation the way I do. 

Not only has God created something wonderful for us to enjoy, it is revealed to us that he cares for us, looks out for us, and meet our needs. Karmen Krahn says, “As the story unfolds, God is revealed as intimately engaged in creation, as the sustaining source of life.” 

God does not just leave us out to dry, but instead is “intimately engaged in creation.” I am thankful that I can be in a relationship with a God who cares for me and loves me more than I might ever understand, and that I can be with Him in the creation He designed with us in mind.

God. Our Master Artist.

 1. Karmen Krahn and Leslie James. 2008. Proclamation by Design: The Visual Arts in Worship.  Waterloo, ON: Faith & Life Resources: 6.

Nov. 18/16 - Awareness of God

It is interesting that Lauren Winner points out in “Wearing God” the attentiveness of Moses to the burning bush (Winner, 2682). This is something I have not thought of before. We know that Moses struggled to speak. With this in mind, I would argue God selected Moses to lead his people out of Egypt not for his ability to speak, but rather his ability to observe. Winner writes, “Only after God saw that Moses had stood long enough to notice the bush in its unconsuming fire did God call out to him” (Winner, 2682). God chose someone who was going to listen well and had the attentiveness to hear God clearly. These were some thoughts that came to me as I read the eighth chapter of Lauren Winner’s book.

Upon reading this bit from “Wearing God,” I questioned my own listening skills and attentiveness to God. Am I listening to what God is trying to tell me? 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this topic. A quality I want to develop in myself is the awareness of God’s voice. I want to be able to understand what God is looking for from me in a given situation. For example, as I continue in my role as Head Care Group Leader in dorm this school year, I want to hear from God how he wants me to encourage someone or challenge them, and then respond to that. I believe that this communication comes from the Holy Spirit and that God will work through me whether I am aware of it or not. However, I do want to improve that awareness and intentionally seek what God wants from me as I continue to pursue God and grow in my relationship with him.

1. Winner, Lauren F.  2015. Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God.  New York: Harper Collins. Kindle.

Nov. 4/16 - Thoughts on Tattoos

As I read through Katharine Schwab’s article on the topic of tattoos, I was inclined to think about my personal feelings on this type of art and whether it should be on my body or not. Here are my thoughts.

When I think about tattoos, the first thing to come to my mind (besides body art) is the verse in Leviticus that talks about tattooing your body: “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28, NASB). 

I recently heard a speaker talk about searching for timeless truths in Scripture, using Deuteronomy 22:8 as a framework for this principle. The verse talks about building a parapet (barrier) on the edges of your roof so people don’t fall off. In Near Eastern culture, roofs were usually flat. These flat roofs would be used as a cooler place to entertain guests in the evening. Parapets protected people from getting hurt.

So should we then build parapets on all of our houses here in Canada? Probably not. But the timeless principle here is that you are to care for the people on your property. 

Of course we can’t find a timeless principle for every single command from God in the Law. In terms of tattooing our bodies, I think it is important that we honour God with our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6 talks about our bodies being a temple of the Holy Spirit, so we are to glorify God with our bodies. I think this principle applies to how we talk, what we fill our minds with, what we wear, as well as what we decide to put on our bodies.

Tattoos can represent a testimony. Katharine Schwab says, “More than just beautiful designs, [tattoos are] reminders of the unique stories that can be told on human skin.” Body art presents people with an incredible opportunity to reach people and share about the hope they have in Jesus. 

To close, will I get a tattoo? No. But I do think tattoos are acceptable and can bring honour and glory to God when used correctly.

1. Schwab, Katharine.  "Highbrow Ink."  The Atlantic (December 3, 2015). http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/12/tattoos-high-art/416769/

Oct. 21/16 - Conversations of Faith

Yesterday was day one of the Global Leadership Summit. While eating lunch in the auditorium, Gillian and I sat with Carmen and Kevin. Carmen, a woman I grew up with in my home church at Crestview, began five or so years ago doing ministry with Power to Change, formally known as Campus Crusade for Christ. 

When I asked Kevin what his role with Power to Change was, I could sense the passion in his eyes as he began to explain. 

Kevin works with the leadership team with Power to Change at three different university campuses in Winnipeg. He told about a strategy he uses when sharing his faith with university students and what a typical conversation with them might look like. 

He begins by explaining what Power to Change is all about. Because the name doesn't include and direct terms related to Christianity, it opens the door for Kevin to explain. He moves to asking if their is one thing they could change in the world, what that would be. An answer might include politics or poverty, for example. From there, he asks how they think that change might come about. An answer to that question might be getting rid of selfishness, greed, etc. 

Kevin then asks them if they see any of that in their own life and how that change might come about. Once they see that these characteristics of selfishness, greed, etc. can be found in everyone, the idea of how only a higher power would be able to take care of that, sparking a contemplation about, “Is there a God?” in the mind of the student.

In the article, God Finds His Niche, Jamie Weinman says, “Stars and producers are increasingly comfortable talking about their religious beliefs in the context of the movies they make” (53). This thought reminded me of my conversation with Kevin. Though he would explain it better than I, I think this method and the ministry Kevin is a part of is really awesome. 

Links for Power to Change: 

• Main Site: http://powertochange.com
• University of Winnipeg: http://p2c.com/students/campus/university-of-winnipeg/
• University of Manitoba: http://p2c.com/students/campus/university-of-manitoba/
• Red River: http://p2c.com/students/campus/red-river-college/

1. Weinman, Jaime J. "God Finds His Niche." Macleans, August 8, 2016, 52-54.

Oct. 14/16 - "Reah Nihoah"

Lauren Winner in Wearing God brings forward a unique perspective on smell in relation to worship. Often, to connect with God, I use my sense of sight by reading the Word or looking out at creation, or hearing by listening for the voice of God or to music that is reflective and worshipful. Rarely do I use my sense of smell to commune with God.

In the Bible, aromas are offered as a sacrifice to God and seem to please God. “When the Bible describes God’s accepting one of these incense offerings, it speaks of a reah nihoah, a soothing odor. Human beings, in an effort to get God’s attention or communicate with God, burned fragrant incense, and God found the incense to be a ‘soothing smell’ and accepted the sacrifice” (Winner 939). 

Prior to reading this chapter of Lauren Winner’s book, I looked at incense as something people of pagan religions used. I viewed it almost as something sinful. At The Forks in Winnipeg, there is a booth in the market dedicated to selling incense. This booth was equipped with multiple Buddhist statues. Because this was the first establishment I had seen dedicated to incense, I was given the impression that incense was bad news and not to be used by a Christ-follower like me. 

This chapter has, in a way, changed my view on fragrances. This is not to say that I will go now to that booth at The Forks and purchase 40 sticks of incense to light in my dorm room as an offering to God. I don't think my roommates would appreciate that very much. 

Winner’s thoughts, however, have changed my view on scent-based worship. God gave me my sense of smell as a gift. So when I walk into Mom’s kitchen to the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, I will thank God for this gift of sweet smelling things. Moving forward, I don’t think I will burn incense as an offering to God. But I will look at the connection between God and my sense of smell differently.

1. Winner, Lauren F.  2015. Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God.  New York: Harper Collins. Kindle.

Oct. 7/16 - Like David

There are times in my life where I feel as though I am distant from God. Other time I feel like He is standing right beside me. I often wonder why that is. In the moments I feel distant from God I might ask Him where He is. 

In a way, I am comforted by the fact that even David, King of Israel, author of many of the Psalms we read daily, and arguably one of the most godly people we read about in the Bible, felt distant from God at times. Steve Turner highlights Psalms 6-10, noting that each one holds a different tone despite how close together they are in Scripture. He says, “The psalms that comfort are very often the ones that show that even ‘a man after God’s own heart’ like David could get mad with God and feel let down” (71). This thought reminded me that I am not the only one who has this experience.

Lately, though, I have been understanding more and more that, no matter what I feel, God is present. Jesus promises at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, “And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b, ESV). This has been something of great value to me as I get older and continue to learn how live a godly life, trying to live like David, “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

1. Turner, Steve. 2001. Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.

Sept. 30/16 - A Walk to Remember

Personal reflections have been a theme for in this blog. I did not anticipate blogging for Christianity & Imagination would be this way, but it seems to be working quite well. So I’m going to stick with it.

Reading the description of Madeline L’Engle’s feelings about war in the third chapter of Walking on Water reminded me of my Grade 12 trip to Europe with the Human Rights group at school. During Spring Break of 2014 I was invited to take part in a Human Rights and Holocaust trip overseas to broaden my understanding of the tragic events that took place during World War II. Looking over the first bit of L’Engle’s chapter brought back many emotions from our tour through Germany, Poland, and Czech Republic.

One memory of our time in Poland stands out in particular. Our tour guide took us through a well known concentration camp called Auschwitz. Before entering, the tour guide gave each of us headsets so we could hear her as we toured. As a class we were prepared emotionally for what we would encounter here. 

As we made our way through the SS office space and the prisoner living quarters, my heart grew heavy, as did those around me, but I maintained composure while others began sobbing and comforting each other.

We had completed the first half of the tour and started walking down the main road of the camp past the “hospital.” The tour guide began explaining how this Nazi physician would experiment on people with unique characteristics (e.g. twins, mental/physical disabilities, etc.). This bother me quite a bit. When the guide explained that at the end of the war, when Auschwitz had been captured by Allied forces, this doctor stood before the camp and was asked if he was had any regrets or was ashamed of what he had participated in. He said no. In fact, he was proud of what had happened. He had no regrets.

This flipped a switch in my mind and tears started to flow down my face. I was overcome with emotion. I furious that this man who had caused so much suffering in the lives of these undeserving prisoners. I ripped the headset off of my head and weeped. I weeped for these people who had gone through immense pain, physically, mentally, and emotionally being starved, living in fear, and losing friends and family.

I cried out to God, asking him why something like this had to happen; why people like this evil doctor did what they did. At the moment I didn’t feel peace. But God used this experience to shape my worldview and open my eyes to the brokenness of our race.

Sept. 23/16 - Bringing Light to the Darkness

I appreciated the short excerpt from Hilary Brand’s book Art & Soul. I was encouraged by Brand when I read her thoughts on reconciliation. She speaks about how, as Christians, we are not to abandon something because of sin that may lurk within it. Instead we are to “invite God’s redeeming presence into it” and bring light to its darkness (Brand 2001, 61). I could relate to this statement quite a bit.

In my setting right now at Steinbach Bible College I see hints of Jesus all around. I live in a community that is filled with students who have decided to commit one or multiple years of their life to specifically to study the Word of God (not to mention the staff and faculty). I am surrounded by people who are pursuing righteousness and are striving to be more like God everyday.

When I go home to Winnipeg, however, my context changes a little bit. In the spring, summer, and fall months I enjoy riding my bicycle around the city. As I toured around Winnipeg this summer on my single-speed two-wheeler, God opened my eyes to the brokenness that inhabits my hometown. Daily I was reminded that this city needs to experience the love that God has for them, and daily I was left with a burden for these people; these image-bearers of God.

This portion of Brand’s book encourages Christians to live out the grace that God has shown us and reflect that to others, as well as to shine the light of Christ in the dark places of our world. As someone who has a desire to serve someday in a community that needs to experience grace, I was encouraged by her message.

1. Brand, Hilary and Adrienne Chaplin. 2001. Art & Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts. Carlisle, CA: IVP Books.

Sept. 16/16 - Jesus' Earthly Career

I find John Stott’s analysis of John 13 intriguing. The way he interprets this passage is something I never would have thought of. For some people, his thoughtful analogy might be a stretch. I, however, have an appreciation for people who pick a part Scripture and share the ways they figure their readers can apply a certain passage to their lives or simply a different perspective. 

John 13 recalls the time Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. John Stott believes that this passage represents an overview of his earthly mission. After looking over the first set of verses myself, I can see what Stott was thinking. John 13:3 tells us this: “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God” (New Living Translation). The following verse (13:4) begins with the word “So.” This builds a connection between the two verses. The word “So” in verse 4 could be replaced with the entirety of verse 3, like this: 

“Because Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God, he got up from the table, took off his robe… etc.”

Stott’s thinking is that each stage listed in verses 4, 5, and 6 symbolize a particular step in Jesus’ time on Earth. 

Jesus got up from the table = “as he had risen from his heavenly throne”

Jesus took off his robe = “as he had laid aside his glory and emptied himself of it”

Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist = “he had taken the form of a servant”

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and wiped them with the towel = “as he would go to the cross to secure cleansing from sin”

I like the way John Stott picks a part John 13 a lot. He sums up his thinking at the end with this comment:

“By these actions [Jesus] was dramatizing his whole earthly career. He was teaching    [his disciples] about himself, who he was, where he had come from, and where he was going” (Shaw 44).

1. Shaw, Luci. Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination, and Spirit. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007